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Sydney vs Wellington Phoenix Preview: Team News & Prediction

by Alex Lawes ·
Sydney vs Wellington Phoenix Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Sydney sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table after 19 games of the A League season with AFC Cup commitments a nuisance as they now welcome struggling Wellington Phoenix this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: Sunday 16th March, 2025: UK – 8:00am / US ET – 4:00am / US PT – 1:00am

How to watch on TV/online: UK – YouTube / US – ESPN / Australia – Paramount+

Sydney Team News: Defensive injuries

Sydney could well be fatigued ahead of this weekend’s clash against the Wellington Phoenix but they do still have a couple of absentees at centre-back with both Aaron Gurd and Alexandar Popovic sidelined for the hosts.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Devenish-Meares; King, R. Grant, A. Grant, Courtney-Perkins; Lolley, Kamijo, Sena, Caceres; Douglas Costa, Klimala

Unavailable: Gurd (Injured), Popovic (Injured)

Questionable: 

Wellington Phoenix Team News: Nothing fresh

The Wellington Phoenix, much like Sydney, have no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues this weekend so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one with only experienced striker Stefan Colakovski unavailable.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): A. Keally-Heald; Piper, Wootton, Hughes, L. Kelly-Heald; Payne, Rufer, Sheridan, Chico Geraldes; Barbarouses, Rojas

Unavailable: Colakovski (Injured)

Questionable: 

Sydney vs Wellington Phoenix Prediction

Sydney had a week off last weekend to focus on their AFC Cup quarter-final tie against K League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Sydney eased past Jeonbuk by two goals to nil in South Korea in the first-leg before then enjoying a 3-2 win. The hosts are now unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions. They now face a Wellington Phoenix side that finished as runners’ up in the A League last season but have now significantly regressed as they sit down towards the bottom end of the table with just five victories in their 19 matches so far this season. The New Zealanders most recently suffered their fourth successive defeat last weekend, losing 4-1 to Western United. Sydney, despite their continental distractions, are in good form and, with their home advantage, should be sided with here.

Sydney vs Wellington Phoenix Tip: Sydney to win

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